Summer hasn't officially begun until the Farmers Market has come back to Darien, with vendors bringing tons of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and baked goods to us, giving us great excuses to eat healthily and try out new and refreshing recipes. It's a sweet start to the warmer weather, and luckily for us, summer will be arriving a month earlier than usual and staying through the holiday season.

This year, the market will begin on Wednesday, May 21st and will run each Wednesday through December from 11am to 6pm in its new location, the Howard Johnson hotel parking lot at 150 Ledge Road. It's a great way to support the local farmers of Connecticut, since all of the food that is available is produced in-state.

And remember that you can always dial 2-1-1, toll-free, 24-hours a day for information on community services and contact information for human services.

A few weeks ago, I made a visit to Family Centers, which is located at 590 Post Road, in the building we typically associate with the Center for HOPE. It's a wonderfully warm space filled with materials that encourage hope, empowerment, and brighter futures - incredibly impressive in and of itself, I thought. Little did I know that Family Centers is not just a brilliant place to be, but also offers over thirty programs and services that are available to make all of our lives a little easier each day. WOW!

Just some of the programs for children and their families include Head Start, Homework Club, The Den for Grieving Kids, parenting workshops, and mental health and crisis counseling. Family Centers also offers senior health insurance counseling, friendly visitors and support groups, employment assistance, and housing resources, among others.

Perhaps there is a program available that could benefit you or someone you know. We could all use a little bit of help from time to time, right? Luckily, on Tuesday, March 25th, from 4 to 5 p.m., Gil Consolini, director of behavioral health at Family Centers, will be visiting Darien Library's Children's Room to discuss the programs and services available to Darien residents.

Why not stop by and find out about some of the great things going on in Darien? I hope to see you there!

On May 4th, the Darien Boy Scouts troops 53 and 35 will be holding their 35th annual tag sale, and they are looking for donations of the following:

Lawnmowers • Furniture • Lawn Furniture • Pictures • Children’s Furniture • Lamps and shades • Computers & TV’s (purchased after 2006) • Sporting Equipment • Lawn and garden tools • Household items • Dishes and decorative items • Knick knacks and jewelry • Games and toys • Bikes, tricycles and scooters • Holiday Items

The Darien Boy Scouts will pick up donations from Darien residents on April 12th and 26th between 9am and 12pm, so be sure to call early to be added to the schedule. 656-1830 ext. 3

Drop-offs will be accepted on April 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 26th from 9am to 12pm at Scout's Cabin, 140 West Avenue.

For small BOAT donations call Steve Bennett 655-9299 or Sbennet3@optonline.net

The following items cannot be accepted for the tag sale: soft goods such as clothing or mattresses, exercise equipment, Xmas trees, construction materials such as sinks and window frames, swing sets, office desks, skis and boots, sofa beds, typewriters, air conditioners, or items with toxic materials such as paints or propane tanks.

Beginning Wednesday, March 19th, from 1pm to 2pm, we're going to do something new and very exciting at Darien Library. On every third Wednesday of the month, Susan Jasko, clinical coordinator of Darien's Child Guidance office, will be available in the Children's Room to answer any questions you may have about mental health and related services available to Darien children and their families. Child Guidance is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides assistance with child, adolescent, and family therapy, educational workshops, and parenting consultations, among other services.

So in between browsing for books or checking out the dvds at the Library, stop by the Children's Room to talk to Susan. If you've got questions, we've certainly got answers!

Monday's New York Times article, After Suicide, Blog Insults Are Debated, reported on an incredibly disturbing event. After being personally attacked by unwarranted comments posted on two well-known advertising blogs, the very successful and accomplished creative director of DDB-Chicago committed suicide. The article also discussed the 2006 suicide of a 13-year old girl who, in the months leading up to her death, had been cyber-bullied by an adult neighbor pretending to be a teenage boy.

We can certainly ponder the cause-and-effect relationship of bullying in the virtual world. The hard truth, however, is that what so many of us value and praise the Internet for providing - anonymity, ease of communication, freedom of expression - has, in part, morphed into a venue for virtual bashing without consequence. There it is - the electronic mob.

The even harder truth is that yes, the mob is right here in Darien. It's happening in the Darien News Blog. It's inevitably happening on our MySpace and Facebook accounts. It's even happening in The Darien Times, where individuals are using the public forum to personally attack people or the paper itself rather than presenting a civil argument on concrete issues affecting the town.

It's a curious thing. We would all take action if we saw a child being outright bullied on the playground by another child. We would stop what was happening to the best of our ability, wouldn't we? So why do we so readily accept the type of from-afar bullying that goes on in this town - the kind that tries to pass itself off as valid criticism? Why do we allow anonymity and personal attacking to occur while accountability falls by the wayside?

Another, and perhaps the most important, question for us all: What can we do about it?

For our close-knit community, as part of a world that has embraced the Internet age and freedom of speech with open arms, it's a question that should be confronted and answered. There's no doubt about that.

Perhaps a starting point for action will be the program being held at Darien Library tomorrow night at 7pm, when author Lee Siegel will be visiting to speak about the ideas in his new book, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. Mr. Siegel clarifys the urgency with which we need to deal with the hidden dangers of the Internet and the lack of accountability that has become a norm in our society. Please join us and let's get the ideas rolling on how we can implement the changes that need to take place.

If Friday night is pizza night in your household, maybe you would like to check out the Chowhound reviews that some pizzerias are getting in our area. It looks like Darien's Post Corner Pizza has received some pretty rave reviews! Being fairly new in town, I haven't had a chance to order up a slice, yet. Perhaps tonight I'll give it a go - it is Friday, after all!

One of FCA's goals is to provide quality services to seniors who wish to live independently and safely in their own homes. The following services are offered:

-Home Health Aides assist with bathing, dressing, and preparing meals.
-Homemakers handle laundry, light housekeeping, and shopping.
-Companions socialize with seniors and provide transportation for running errands.
-Carpenters and handymen assist with house maintenance issues, such as snow removal, repairs, and heavy lifting.
-Live-In Services provide 24/7 caregiver service. All caregivers are screened by a registered nurse.
-Lifeline allows for easy access to emergency services simply by pressing a button.

On Saturday, April 5th, FCA will host its annual fundraising gala, "Soaring to New Heights," at Darien's Woodway Country Club. A silent and live auction will be held. To find out more about FCA's programs, the spring gala, or volunteer opportunities, please call 855-8765 or visit the website.

Accessible 24/7/365, the call specialists at 2-1-1 will help answer your questions about a variety of topics, including where to seek child counseling, transportation means for disabled residents, where to find reliable, affordable child and elderly care, how to obtain a passport, and what types of addictive behavior support groups are conducted nearby. (Remember to continue dialing 9-1-1 for police, fire, and EMS response service, and 4-1-1 for the telephone directory). The online 2-1-1 Navigator also provides questionnaires that determine whether you may qualify for state or federal programs that assist in paying for food, health insurance, and child care.

2-1-1 began in 1976 as an initiative by the United Way of Connecticut to provide easy access to a comprehensive database of health and human services, and since 2001, the FCC has used Connecticut's 2-1-1 as a model for the entire country. What innovation!

So help spread the word about 2-1-1. Perhaps you or someone you know could benefit from it, and there are many, many organizations and agencies wanting to lend a hand.

If sushi's not your thing, maybe you'll want to consider trying some of the best sandwiches in Fairfield County!

On Saturday, March 1st, be prepared to witness some incredible talent, amazing showmanship, and all-out silliness as the Harlem Rockets come to challenge the Darien All-Stars Basketball Team to a duel. And a challenge it will surely be! But check out the formidable lineup that will be representing our town: Middlesex Middle School teachers Steve Dunn, Marc Power, George Taylor, Russ Caruso, Bryan Rickert, Sarah Hathaway, Alyson Spencer, and Phil Kennan and The Depot's Tommy Toledo, Mike Mosca, Phil Winter, David Bushing, Matt Miceli, and John Miceli.

Support members of our community as they battle it out with former college and professional basketball players for the title, and make it a night out for the entire family!

The event takes place at Darien High School Main Gym, and show time begins at 6pm. Tickets are $12 per person and are available at the Middlesex Message Center, The Depot, and Barrett Bookstore.

Hey, Darien HS students!

Looking for a place to cram for that killer math test you have tomorrow? Head over to The Depot between 6pm and 9pm, because Monday nights are now study nights. You'll have access to the Depot's wireless Internet, computer terminals, and comfy couches in case you want to settle in for few hours of reading that novel for your English Lit class.

IMHO, with a snack bar, Wii games, DVDs, board games, and a huge flat-screen tv, you'll have lots of excuses to take a mid-study break, all without that guilt-inducing "get back to your books" glare from the 'rents! Sounds pretty good, right?